Hit-and-run crashes are often tragic. Most people understand that the right thing to do after being involved in an accident is to stop, ensure you are okay, and check on others involved. However, hit-and-run accidents are not uncommon in and around Los Angeles. Recently, a man was killed after being struck by three different hit-and-run drivers as he attempted to cross an LA roadway. Here, a hit-and-run accident lawyer wants to discuss this incident as well as what you can do if you or a loved one are involved in a hit-and-run accident.
THE TRAGEDY ON CENTRAL AVENUE AND 78TH
At the end of November 2020, police say that Jose Fuentes, 50, was attempting to cross Central Avenue at 78th Street when he was struck by a motorcycle traveling northbound. On its face, this may seem like a story about yet another hit-and-run accident in Los Angeles. However, the LAPD has released surveillance footage that shows that Fuentes was lying on the street after being struck by the motorcycle when he was struck by a second and then a third vehicle.
Every single driver that struck Fuentes fled the scene of the accident.
According to a local ABC News affiliate, LAPD Detective Ryan Moreno said, “No one stopped and helped out Mr. Fuentes as he lay there.”
HIT-AND-RUN ACCIDENTS ARE OFTEN SEVERE
Hit-and-run accidents are not uncommon in Los Angeles or throughout California, despite most major cities adopting the Vision Zero initiative to eliminate traffic deaths within city limits. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, we can see that there were 340 hit-and-run fatalities and 26,247 hit-and-run injuries across the state during the latest reporting year of data we have available. These numbers are astounding, and they highlight the severity of the problem.
Hit-and-run accidents involving pedestrians tend to cause severe injuries. As the incident involving Mr. Fuentes shows, pedestrian hit-and-run accidents can also lead to fatalities. Those that do survive these incidents regularly sustain severe injuries, including:
- Broken and dislocated bones
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Open head wounds
- Spinal cord injuries
- Other severe neck or back injury
- Internal organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Severe lacerations or road rash
- Amputations or crush injuries
Survivors of hit-and-run accidents also regularly suffer from significant emotional and psychological trauma as a result of the incident, their injuries, and their subsequent recovery processes.
CALL OUR LA PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT LAWYER TODAY
If you or somebody you love has been injured in a hit-and-run accident in or around Los Angeles, you may need to seek legal assistance in order to recover full compensation for your losses. At the Law Offices of Howard Kornberg, our team understands the importance of having somebody with extensive resources and legal expertise by your side. Let us investigate your case and work to obtain full compensation for your losses. When you need a pedestrian crash lawyer, you can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or calling 310-997-0904.
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